Process of nodulizing fine ores.



T 0 all whom it may concern:

ANDREW J. DULL. or HARRISBURG.'"PEN'NSYLVANIA.

NoDrawtng.

Be it known that LJosnrn 'm'rnnanv,

..lr.. a citizen of the United States, residing at New Cumberland, county of Cumberland, and State of Pennsylvania. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in the Processof Xodulizing Fine Ores: and I do hereby declare the following to be. a full,-

clcar, and exact description of the same.

The present invention relates to processes of treating fine metallic ores, residues, flue,

dust or concentrates, whereby such fine inaterials are agglomerated or formed into nodules of appreciable size adapted for use in blast furnaces,

The objects of the invention are to provide an improved )rocess whereby not only. is a more efl'ectual control of the furnace rendered possible and the danger and expense incident to the formation oi rings and scaffolds overcome, but the nodules producedwill be hard and porous, any oxygen present in the ore bemq partly eliminated.

A further olnect of the invention is to reduce the cost of the process of changing the physical form of the ore and to enable waste'materials to be. utilized in the production of 'a commercial product.

In carrying the invention into practice, known apparatus may be employed and various forms of such aplparatus will at once suggest themselves, suc 1, for instance, as a rotary kiln setat a slight inclination with a stack and ore entrance at the upper end and a nodule discharge and fuel supply or burner at the lower end. i

' In the process of agglomerating or. nodulizing as at. present practiced, the-fine material, usually previously mixed with a binding substance or agent, travels through the kiln and is agitated by the rotation of the latter so as to be thoroughly exposed to the action of the heat and gases, the rolling agitation and heat finallycausing the fine particles to cohcre in the form of nodules, The heat is such that the particles begin-to form into; nodules about m dway of thc' len 'th of the kiln and one of the serious dithculties encountered in practic ng the process results from the formation of rings and scallolds due to the adherence of the V material to the walls of the kiln, this being espcciallyliable to happen at or somewhat be 0w the middle of the kiln where the ring and nodules are formed.

PROCESS'OF nonuuzmo Finn omas.

or scatlold cannotbe removed without. shutting down and'cooling otf the kiln.

In accordance with the present invention the line material or ore isnot heated to the point where agglomeration or nodulizing takes place until it reaches a point relatively near the discharge end of the kiln and at this point finely granulated carbonaceous ma terial coke or charcoal. for instance) is introduced and intimately mixed with the ore. The carbon particles becoming ignited consume oxygen from the ore and the ore particles adhere to the more highly heated carbonaceous material. Incipient fusion of the ore particles at once commences with the result that other particles adhere thereto nodules maybe varied by varying the quantity of carbonaceous material; introduced.

In practicing the invention it is preferable to introduce the fine carbonaceous material bv blowing the same against or into the ore about six or eight feet from the discharge end where it will be thoroughly mixed with the ore as the latter is rolled or agitated by the rotation of the kiln.

The action at the nodulizing or agglomertmi rrm); sir Arias oF Io l JOSEPH WEATHERBY, JR. or NEW CUMBERLAND rsimsY vAmA. ASSIGNOR To 7 The size of the ating point is believed to be correctly indicated by the following formula:

The character of the resulting material is s such that it does not take on oxygen in cooling and it. therefore, remains a stable product capable of being stored and handled economically. As the nodules are formed, the carbon particles contained therein continue to burn until they are wholly or partly be appreciated from the fact that good results have been obtained with the use of but one pound of coke-to two hundred pounds of ore. v In the present process a lower teiu )eratnre than herct oforqniay be maintaiuc to prevent the ore from fusin or sticking to the uniwalls of the kiln and tie increase n temperature due to the introduction and comi l l I f v v v a bustioti of the fine carbonaceous material and heat,

nodulizing point which point is so near the discharge end that, should clinkers or rings form, the same may be readil dethrough the dischar e end without shuttin material. but it is preferred that it be introduced in such manner that it is ignite ore before combustion has progressed to an from the ore or actually contacts with the 1 combustible into the ore while heated to it takes place in the body of ore itself at the temperature sufiiciently high to ignite the carbonaceous combustible and continuing the mechanical agitation during and subsequent h I f to the introduction of the combustible. tached by a bar or instrument HillOt need 1 3. vThe processof nod ulizing or agglomerating fine ores whichconsists in subjecting the ore tomechanical agitation and heat,

then introducing carbonaceous combustible into the ore while heated to a temperature ii'isufficient to fuse the ore and in igniting said combustible and continuing the me chanical agitation during the combustion of the combustible. i

4. The process of nodulizing or agglomerappreciable degree. The fuel used in the burner may be either pulverized or gaseous,

as in ordinary practice in iiodi-iliaingkilns or in cement burning kilns.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-,

1.- The process of nodulizing or agglomerating fine metallic ores which consists in subjecting the ore to mechanical agitation andheat, then introducing andcommingliug carbonaceous combustible with the ore while still heated and in burning said combustible while in contact with the ore to raise the temperature of the ore particles to a. higher degree, a

2. The process of nodulizi-ng or aggloiiierating fine metallic ores which consists in subjecting the ore to mechanical agitation then introducing, carbonaceous atiiig fine ores which consists in subjecting the ore to agitation and heat insutiicient to fuse the same. then while still heated and being agitated, introducing and commit:- gling therewith a coinminuted combustible substance which will effect the agglomeration of the fine particles.

The process of noduliziug or agglomerating fine metallic ores which consists in subjecting the ore to mechanical agitation and heat in a rotary kiln and in introducing comminuted carbonaceous combustible material into the ore in proximity to its point. i

of discharge from the kiln. v JOSEPH WEATHERBYl-JR. Witnesses: a i ii SAMUEL F. Pen-111s,

V. V. VEATHERBYe 

